“China therefore requests the Dispute Settlement Body to establish a panel to examine this matter,” the communication dated January 16 said. As a result, India’s trade deficit with China widened to USD 99.2 billion during 2024–25. With India’s large auto market, Chinese EV manufacturers see the country as an important destination. However, Chinese EV exports have met resistance in several markets. The European Union, for instance, has imposed a 27 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles to curb their sales in the bloc.

Source: The Telegraph January 19, 2026 18:18 UTC